Matt Jones (writer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew David Jones is a British
television
writer and producer
, who has worked on a variety of popular drama programmes for several television networks in the UK.
Matt Jones began his writing career as a columnist for Doctor Who Magazine
in 1995, before the following year having a novel, Bad Therapy
, printed in Virgin Publishing's range of licensed Doctor Who tie-in books, the New Adventures
. He later wrote Beyond the Sun
for the same series.
His big break in television came in 1999, when he was the script editor
on Red Production Company
's controversial drama series Queer as Folk, screened on Channel 4
. The same year, he script edited another Channel 4 drama produced by Red, the anthology series Love in the 21st Century, for which he also wrote one episode.
The following year he worked as a writer on two series for Granada Television
, their popular children's drama Children's Ward
and flagship soap opera Coronation Street
, both aired on the ITV
network. Returning to Red, in 2000 he script edited the first series of the British Academy Television Award-winning drama Clocking Off
, and in 2001 he gained his first credit as a producer when he both wrote and produced the one-off drama Now You See Her, starring Amanda Holden
, for the satellite channel Sky One
.
In 2003 he began working for Company Pictures
, creating, writing and producing the crime drama Serious and Organised, starring Martin Kemp and again screened on ITV. Moving up to become an Executive Producer, he worked on another Company series for ITV, the Second World War-set POW. In 2004 he was an Executive Producer on Company's critically acclaimed drama series Shameless, screened on Channel 4
, and became the show's producer for the second season in 2005, the year in which the programme won a British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series
.
In April 2005, Jones was announced as one of the writers working on the second season of the BBC
revival of hugely popular science-fiction series Doctor Who
, fulfilling a childhood ambition to work on the programme of which he had long been a fan. His episodes, a two-parter with the titles "The Impossible Planet
" and "The Satan Pit
", were broadcast on 3 and 10 June 2006.
Jones also wrote the seventh episode of the second series of Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood
, called "Dead Man Walking
".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
writer and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, who has worked on a variety of popular drama programmes for several television networks in the UK.
Matt Jones began his writing career as a columnist for Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
in 1995, before the following year having a novel, Bad Therapy
Bad Therapy
Bad Therapy is an original novel written by Matthew Jones and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Seventh Doctor, Chris and Peri....
, printed in Virgin Publishing's range of licensed Doctor Who tie-in books, the New Adventures
Virgin New Adventures
The Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
. He later wrote Beyond the Sun
Beyond the Sun (Bernice Summerfield)
Beyond the Sun is a novel by Matt Jones featuring the fictional archaeologist Bernice Summerfield, his second for the Virgin New Adventures. The New Adventures were a spin-off from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The book is, in part, a coming-of-age story for...
for the same series.
His big break in television came in 1999, when he was the script editor
Script editor
A script editor is a member of the production team of scripted television programmes, usually dramas and comedies. The script editor has many responsibilities including finding new script writers, developing storyline and series ideas with writers, ensuring that scripts are suitable for production...
on Red Production Company
Red Production Company
Red Production Company is a British independent television production company, formed in 1998 by Nicola Shindler, an experienced television producer who had worked on such prestige dramas as Our Friends in the North and Cracker...
's controversial drama series Queer as Folk, screened on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. The same year, he script edited another Channel 4 drama produced by Red, the anthology series Love in the 21st Century, for which he also wrote one episode.
The following year he worked as a writer on two series for Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, their popular children's drama Children's Ward
Children's Ward
Children's Ward is a British children's television drama series produced by Granada Television and broadcast on the ITV network as part of its Children's ITV strand on weekday afternoons...
and flagship soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, both aired on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network. Returning to Red, in 2000 he script edited the first series of the British Academy Television Award-winning drama Clocking Off
Clocking Off
Clocking Off is a British television drama series which ran on the BBC One network for four series from 2000 to 2003. It was produced for the BBC by the independent Red Production Company, and created by Paul Abbott...
, and in 2001 he gained his first credit as a producer when he both wrote and produced the one-off drama Now You See Her, starring Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
, for the satellite channel Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
.
In 2003 he began working for Company Pictures
Company Pictures
Company Pictures is an independent British television production company which has produced drama programming for many broadcasters. Their productions have included:*drama series Wild at Heart for ITV1, written by Ashley Pharoah....
, creating, writing and producing the crime drama Serious and Organised, starring Martin Kemp and again screened on ITV. Moving up to become an Executive Producer, he worked on another Company series for ITV, the Second World War-set POW. In 2004 he was an Executive Producer on Company's critically acclaimed drama series Shameless, screened on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, and became the show's producer for the second season in 2005, the year in which the programme won a British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series
British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series
The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards , the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry...
.
In April 2005, Jones was announced as one of the writers working on the second season of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
revival of hugely popular science-fiction series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
, fulfilling a childhood ambition to work on the programme of which he had long been a fan. His episodes, a two-parter with the titles "The Impossible Planet
The Impossible Planet
"The Impossible Planet" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the first part of a two-part story, followed by "The Satan Pit". The TARDIS lands in a base on a planet orbiting a black hole, an allegedly impossible situation that stumps even the Doctor...
" and "The Satan Pit
The Satan Pit
"The Satan Pit" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the second part of a two-part story, following "The Impossible Planet". With the TARDIS seemingly lost, Rose and the remaining humans are trapped on the base with the possessed Ood, while the planet...
", were broadcast on 3 and 10 June 2006.
Jones also wrote the seventh episode of the second series of Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
, called "Dead Man Walking
Dead Man Walking (Torchwood)
"Dead Man Walking" is the seventh episode of the second series of British science fiction television series Torchwood. It was broadcast by BBC Three and BBC HD on 20 February 2008; it made its terrestrial debut on BBC Two on 27 February.-Synopsis:...
".
External links
- Matt Jones at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Archived online web chat about Queer as Folk
- Archived online web chat about Love in the 21st Century